Chapter 14 - THE FINAL SHOWDOWN
The rehabilitation clinic was located on the twelfth floor of a high-rise medical center overlooking Lake Michigan. When our convoy arrived, the streets were eerily quiet. Too quiet. Luca stepped out of the car first, his hand resting on his hidden firearm. “Stay close,” he ordered me. We entered the lobby. The security guards on duty were unconscious, slumped over their desk. “Ambush,” Max muttered, drawing his weapon. We took the private elevator straight to the twelfth floor. The doors slid open with a soft ding. The hallway was empty. Except for one man standing by the glass doors of the therapy room. Marco Bellini. A tall, ruthless man holding a silver pistol. And inside the glass room, terrified and alone, was Sofia. “Stop right there, Luca!” Marco yelled, pressing his gun against the glass. “One more step and the girl gets it!” Luca stopped. His hands clenched into fists at his sides. “Marco,” Luca said, his voice dangerously low. “Your brother is in a holding cell.” “Vanessa is dead.” “This ends today.” “It ends when my family reclaims what you stole!” Marco screamed. “You destroyed the Bellini name!” “You killed my niece!” “Vanessa killed herself because of her own greed,” Luca replied calmly. “And you're about to make the same mistake.” Marco laughed maniacally. “Maybe so!” “But I'm taking your daughter with me!” He raised his gun toward the glass inside the room where Sofia cowered behind a treatment table. “Sofia!” I screamed. Without thinking, I lunged forward. I didn't have a weapon. I didn't have a plan. I just had my own body. I threw myself across the hallway, tackling Marco from the side just as he pulled the trigger.Bang! The bullet shattered the overhead light fixture. Glass rained down around us. Marco cursed, swinging his heavy elbow back. It struck me in the jaw. Pain exploded across my face. I stumbled back, tasting blood. Before Marco could aim again, a deafening shot echoed through the hallway.Bang. Marco froze. A red stain bloomed across his chest. He dropped his weapon. He staggered backward and collapsed onto the marble floor. Silence fell over the corridor. Luca lowered his smoking gun. He rushed past Marco's body and kicked open the glass door of the treatment room. “Sofia!” Luca cried, dropping to his knees. The little girl ran into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably. “Daddy! I was so scared!” “I've got you,” Luca choked out, holding her tight. “You're safe. It's over.” He looked up at me as I stood in the doorway, wiping blood from my lip. Luca stood up, walked over, and gently cupped my bruised cheek with his hand. “You are the bravest woman I have ever known,” he whispered. “Are you alright?” “I'm fine,” I smiled faintly. “Just a scratch.” Luca pulled me into his free arm, holding both of us against his chest. “It's finally over,” he whispered against my hair. “Everyone is safe.”
